This maker of grinders and grinder arbors was established in 1930 as General Grinder Corp. The name was changed the following year to General Hardware Co.

Information Sources

• 1930-10-26 article from the Milwaukee Sentinel. Our thanks to Roland Limperrt for this information.

  The General Grinder Corporation recently organized here, is nearly ready for production, according to an announcement Saturday by Van B. Hooper, president, who stated installation of machinery is about completed. The firm with $50,000 capital, has leased an entire floor or the Heller Elevator building, 240 North Milwaukee Street.

  Included in the products to be manufactured by the concern area complete line of hand tool grinders, power and electric grinders, bench vises and similar hardware products, Mr. Hooper said. Officers, besides Mr. Hooper, are: Vice president. Charles G. Crabb and secretary-treasurer, Louis V. Shaw.

  Before organizing the General Grinder Corporation, Mr. Hooper was general sales manager for the Master Lock Company, and has served as president of the Milwaukee Advertising club, and the Sales Managers’ Association here. Mr. Crabb was also formerly with the Master Lock firm, while Mr. Shaw was connected with the Luther Grinder Manufacturing Company .

  The entire national sales force has started soliciting business and the sales volume being produced is far exceeding the company's expectations. Mr. Hooper said.

• From a 1931 issue of Iron Age.

  General Grinder Corpn., 240 North Milwaukee Street, Milwaukee, has changed its corporate title to General Hardware Corpn., to better describe its present line of tools and devices, in addition to original line of tool grinders. Van B. Hooper is ...

• From a 1931 issue of Hardware Age.

  CHANGES ITS NAME The General Grinder Corp., Milwaukee, Wis., has just announced an amendment to its charter' doubling its capital from $50,000 to $100,000. Along with this development the name of the company has been changed to General Hardware Corp., in order to better describe its present line of tools and devices.

• A 1970 issue of Hardware Age lists "General Hardware Co Inc Milwaukee Wis."